Reclosable bag

ABSTRACT

A paper bag, such as of the gusset type, has a liner, and an elongated strip of metal foil is trapped between the liner bag and the outer bag. The flexible foil has sufficient stiffness to resist bending and extends into the gussets, the liner bag also serving as a window pane for an opening in the outer bag, the configuration of the flexible metal foil strip being such as to augment the resistance to bending of a particular thickness of such strip.

United States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,764,060

Ruda Oct. 9, 1973 RECLOSABLE BAG 1 1,903,839 4 1933 Royal 229/652,147,117 2/1939 Bensel 229/65 X [75] Inventor. Raymond J. Ruda,Ch1cago, 111. 3,554,436 1/1971 Palmer u [73]. Assigneez BagcmfiCorporation? Chicago [IL 3,618,850 11/1971 Palmer 229/65 [22] Filed:June 21, 1971 Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead 211 App] 154 940Attorney-Carlton Hill et al.

[52] U.S. Cl. 229/65, 229/78 [57] ABSTRACT 511 1m. 01 B65d 33/16 A g thef??? type g 58 Fi Id Sea h an aneongate smpo meta 1S trappe etween 1 e om 229/65 78 the liner bag and the outer bag. The flexible foil has [56]References Cited sufficient stiffness to resist bending and extends intothe gussets, the liner bag also serving as a window pane for an openingin the outer bag, the configuration of the flexible metal foil stripbeing such as to augment the resistance to bending of a particularthickness of such strip.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 286,758 10/1883 Angier ..229/65 1,875,919 9/1932Eynom et a1 ..229/65 6Claims,7Drawing Figures 111 z/ 1 ll "32131-1 c1105"4 I l 1 F 1 11* 1T11-11m1T 11"11 rmr r r *1 I |1 11 1 |1 1 11 II II 1'l '1 h 1| 1' 11 1 11 11 1 1 11 11 1 1' 1 I u H 1 1Ll1| 1| 11 H H 11 I1 I'1 1 '11':1::1 1 1 //L 1.1111111 1.131511 1 1 L1i u 25 1 -20 1 1 Z3 12 1l Patented Oct. 9, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F o L 0 H E R E m 562% 42 aWATTORNEY5 RECLOSABLE BAG BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION -l. Field of theInvention This invention relates to paper bags, and more specifically toa bag of the gusset type having means adjacent the mouth by which thebag is rendered reclosable.

2. Prior Art Reclosable bags per se are known in the art. Bags used inbakeries for many types of baked goods require a virtually air-tightseal, while bags used with crispy crust breads do not need to beair-tight but need to provide a sanitary container that will prevent theproduct from falling out and keep out flies and dust. In some instances,it is known that local Boards of Health have required that a bakery bagbe folded closed to protect the bag not only against flies, but againstcustomers who like to pinch the product. The folded closed end alsoserves to retain the product therein.

Mostconstructions of reclosable bags that are on the market include whatis called a tin-tie which includes a metal wire encased in paper orplastic. This type of closure during manufacture ofa bag involvesseparate handling of the tin-tie. For instance, the tin-tie may be fedmanually to a bag making machine, or else a semiv finished bag must gothrough a separate operation involving an automatic machine forattaching tin-ties thereto. Frequently, the labor cost for such separatehandling and/or processing exceeds half of the total labor and materialcost for producing the bag. In addition, bags that have such closuresafter they are filled must be closed by hand, thereby adding to the costof the first user of the bag.

It has been known that dishonest shoppers in a retail establishment willopen a bag having such a closure, remove and/or eat some of thecontents, and reclose the same. Other dishonesty involves the insertionof some small item within such bag so as to escape the attention of thestore s sales personnel. Thus for security reasons, it'has been commonheretofore to further utilize a heatseal to prevent unauthorizedpre-sale access to the interior of the bag. Opening a bag having aheat-seal usually causes the liner to tear, and where the liner is usedto provide air-tightness, the bag can no longer be closed as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a construction ofbag assembly is provided which can be readily machine made on existingtypes of bag machines, fitted with a suitable attachment for handling astrip of foil, and yet the end of the bag is so adapted as to make thesame machineclosable when the first user is filling the same. Further,

' such user can apply a small amount of glue to a fold during suchmachine-closing which will serve adequately to protect againstunauthorized entry, and which will eliminate the need for heat-sealingequipment, and which will eliminate the relative difficulty with which aheat-sealed bag is opened, and which will further eliminate ensuingdamage that normally takes place to a heat-sealed bag upon its beingopened. Nevertheless, with this invention, the end of the bag is soadapted as to make the same reclosable tightly, not only after theinitial opening but after a number of openings thereof. To this end,there is provided a rectangular strip of thin metal or foil which is notparticularly resilient, but which is flexible. The strip is trappedbetween an outer bag and a liner bag, and preferably is provided with'asupplemental configuration in the direction of its thickness thataugments the'n'atural resistance of the metal to bending.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide areclosable bag that can be. manufactured automatically on a singlemachine'without thev expense of feeding a closing element manuallyandwithout the expense of a separate operation for attaching thereclosing means.

A further object of the present invention is to provide. a bag that canbe opened and reclosed. numerous times.

Astill further object of the present invention is to provide areclosable bag structure wherein the bag. is held closed along theentire length of the mouth of the bag.

Yet another object of'the present invention is to provide a reclosablebag structure of such configuration that it can be automatically closedby machine at the end of the filling process.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reclosable bagstructure which can be initially glued closed, readily opened, andreclosed without damage to a liner bag made of air-tight material.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide areclosable bag structure wherein a metal element is so disposed andarranged that it cannot scratch the user or comev in contact with thecontents during use, opening and/or closing. of the bag.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a reclosablebag structure. wherein the means that makes it reclosable is virtuallyinvisible.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the presentinvention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon makingreference to the detailed description of the accompanying drawings in.

which preferred structural embodiments incorporating the principles ofthe present invention are shown by way of illustrative example.

ON THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of themouth-end of a bag, provided in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the mouth end of the bag of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line III-III ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a pe ispective view of one end of the mouth of the bag of FIG.1 showing one way in which it can be closed;

FIG. 5. is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along. line V-V ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a modification ofthe structure of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII- VII of FIG. 1.

The thickness of the bag materials and foil shown herein are exaggeratedfor purpose of clarity of illustration.

AS SHOWN ON THE DRAWINGS- The principles of the. present invention areparticularly useful when embodied in a reclosable. bag assembly, such asfragmentarily shown in FIG. 1 and generally indicated by the numeral 10.The. bag assembly 10, as best seen in FIG. 2', includes an outer bag 11and an inner or liner bag 12. The material of the outer bag preferablyis opaque and may, for example comprise bleached Kraft, sulfite, or apaper-plastic laminate. The outer bag 11 has a front panel 13 and a rearpanel 14 which are joined together at their longitudinal and bottomedges, such joining being here provided by a pair of gussets 15. Thefourth or upper edges of the panels jointly define the mouth of the bagwhich is to be opened and closed. The front panel 13 includes a window16 which enables viewing of the contents of the bag assembly 10.

' The liner bag 12 preferably comprises polypropylene or Cellophane, orsimilar transparent material, which serves as a window pane 17 enclosingthe window 16. Where the window 16 is omitted, the liner bag 12 maycomprise other materials, for example glassine, or other single orlaminated liner materials. Thus the inner bag or liner bag 12 also hasfront and back panels 18,19 also joined together at their longitudinaledges and bottom, as by a gusset construction, with their fourth edgescoinciding with the mouth of the bag.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided arectangular strip 20 of flexible metal, such as aluminum foil which issecured to the inside of the front panel 13 with the ends thereofprojecting into the gussets 15,15. The longitudinal edges of the strip20 extend parallel to the fourth edges which make up the bag mouth, andthe longitudinal extent of the strip 20 preferably is in excess of 80percent of the width of the bag assembly so that the length of the stripof foil is nearly the full width of the bag. The strip 20 is enclosedand trapped by the liner bag. To this end, the strip is glued orsimilarly bonded to the inner surface of the front panel 13 of the outerbag 11. Alternatively, glue or bonding can be provided between the frontpanel 13 of the outer bag and the front panel 18 of the inner bag in anarea surrounding the strip 20 so as to trap the same. The strippreferably comprises aluminum having a thickness between 0.003 and 0.006inch. If steel is used, owing to its greater stiffness, a thicknessunder 0.003 inch is utilized. From FIG. 1 it can be noted that the strip20 is disposed centrally in the space between the mouth of the bag andthe window 16. In the space between the strip and the mouth of the bag,there are indicia provided to indicate a prospective fold line. To thisend, on the front panel 13, there are indicia 21 which are fairly closeto the mouth of the bag, while on the rear panel 14 there are indicia 22that are disposed along the length of the bag between the location ofthe indicia 21 and the adjacent edge of the strip 20.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, thestiffness of the strip 20 is augmented by its configuration. Suchaugmentation becomes more important when heavier bag materials areutilized, particularly where the bag is of the gusset type so that thereare eight thicknesses to bend over in the first fold. One constructionfor augmenting the stiffness of the strip is shown at the left end ofthe strip 20 in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 5. In this form, the end of the strip20 is folded back upon itself so that the end 23 of the strip is afolded edge. The folded over portion thus is disposed within the gusset15 to provide a greater holding force against the natural tendency forthe greater number of layers to open up.

In FIG. 6, there is shown a modification of the stiffncss augmentationconstruction of FIG. where again the strip is folded on itself, but inthis embodiment, the

strip 20 is provided with a Z-fold 24 so that there are two folded edges25,26 within the gusset while the extreme end edge 27 is not a fold inthis embodiment. This construction provides even greater stiffening thandoes the form of FIG. 5, and is useful for the heaviest duty paper bags,such as flour and sugar sacks.

In FIG. 7 there is shown a stiffness augmentation that may be used inthe central portion of the strip 20 as shown in FIG. 1, and which maycomprise the sole augmentation for the more flexible bags. In this form,the strip 20 is provided with various embossed portions that extendtransversely to the longitudinal edges of the strip 20 and thustransversely to the prospective fold lines, the embossed portions herecomprising parallel ridges 28 about which the front panels 13,18 readilyfit.

When the bag assembly 10 has been filled or otherwise provided withcontents, the bag may be folded first along the indicia 21 and thenalong the indicia 22 and then once more along the center of the strip20. If desired, such folding may be varied. For example, it may befolded first along the indica 22 and thence along the center of thestrip 20 as shown in FIG. 4.

If a user wishes, the first fold may extend along the strip 20. Also, ifthe bag is not too full, the first fold may be applied to the areabetween the strip 20 and the bottomv or window 16 of the bag andthereafter folded along the length of the strip 20. Wherever the bag isfolded or refolded, the strip 20 serves to keep the bag closed toprevent entry of flies, dust, unauthorized fingers, and the like, andthe entire construction that holds the bag'closed is invisible to theuser and yet is so entrapped as not to be likely to scratch the user orto come in contact with the contents.

In some instances, it may be desirable to omit the liner bag 12, wherethe possiblity of scratching and the fact of visibility are notproblems.

Outer and liner bags 11,12 typically have a longitudinal seam. In theembodiment, the seam 30 is placed in the rear panel of each bag, thusremotely from the strip 20, and so as not to be a part of the same panelto which the strip 20 is secured.

Although various minor modifications may be suggested by those versed inthe art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scopeof the patent warranted hereon, all such embodiments as reasonably andproperly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A reclosable bag assembly, comprising:

a. an outer bag of opaque material having front and back panelsperipherally joined at three edges, the fourth edges jointly defining amouth, there being a window opening in one of said panels;

b. a liner bag of transparent material disposed within said outer bagand having front and back panels peripherally joined at three edges, thefourth edges jointly defining a second month coinciding with the firstnamed mouth, said liner bag serving also as a window pane closing saidopening; and

c. a strip of metal foil disposed between and engaging only said frontpanels of said bags centrally in the space between said mouth and saidwindow, the elongated edges of said strip extending parallel to thefourth edges of said front panels, and extending for nearly the fullwidth of said front panels, said strip being fully enclosed by saidpanels and secured in a fixed position.

2. A reclosable bag assembly, comprising:

a. an outer bag having front and back panels peripherally joined atthree edges, the fourth edges jointly defining a mouth;

b. a liner bag disposed within said outer bag and having front and backpanels peripherally joined at three edges, the fourth edges jointlydefining a second mouth coinciding with the first-named mouth;

c. a strip of flexible metal foil disposed between and engaging onlysaid front panels of said bags, the elongated edges of said stripextending parallel to the fourth edges of said front panels, andextending for nearly the full width of said front panels, said stripbeing fully enclosed by said panels and secured in afixed position; and

d. indicia carried on at least one of said first-named panels forindicating at least one prospective fold line between said mouth and thenearer edge of said strip.

3. A reclosable bag assembly, comprising:

a. an outer bag having front and back panels peripherally joined atthree edges, the fourth edges jointly defining a mouth; I

b. a liner bag disposed within said outer bag and having front and backpanels peripherally joined at three edges, the fourth edges jointlydefining a second mouth coinciding with the first-named mouth; and

c. a strip of flexible metal foil disposed between and engaging onlysaid front panels of said bags, the elongated edges of said stripextending parallel to the fourth edge of said front panels, andextending for nearly the full width of said front panels, s'aid stripbeing fully enclosed by said panels and secured in a fixed position, atleast one end portion of said strip having been folded over upon itselfbetween said bags to provide a configuration which augments theresistance to bending of the foil with one end of the strip being afolded edge.

4. A reclosable bag assembly, comprising:

a. an outer bag having front and back panels peripherally joined atthree edges, the fourth edges jointly defining a mouth;

b. a liner bag disposed within said outer bag and having front and backpanels peripherally joined at three edges, the fourth edges jointlydefining a second mouth coinciding with the first-named mouth; and

c. a strip of flexible metal foil disposed between and engaging onlysaid front panels of said bags, the elongated edges of said stripextending parallel to the fourth edges of said front panels, andextending for nearly the full width of said front panels, said stripbeing fully enclosed by said panels and secured in a fixed position, acentral portion of said strip having a 2-fold so as to provide a portionhaving three foil thicknesses between said bags which augments theresistance to bending of the foil.

5. A reclosable bag assembly, comprising:

a. an outer bag having front and back panels peripherally joined atthree edges, such joining being provided at opposite longitudinal edgesby a pair of gussets, the fourth edges jointly defining a mouth;

b. a liner bag disposed within said outer bag and having front and backpanels peripherally joined at three edges, such joining being providedat opposite longitudinal edges by a pair of gussets, the fourth edgesjointly defining a second mouth coinciding with the first-named mouth;and

c. a strip of flexible metal foil disposed between and engaging onlysaid front panels of said bags, a portion of said strip having beenfolded over upon itself between said bags to provide a configurationwhich augments the resistance to bending of the foil, the elongatededges of said strip extending parallel to the fourth edges of said frontpanels, said strip being fully enclosed by said panels and secured in afixed position, the ends of said strip extending for nearly the fullwidth of said front panels to be in juxtaposition with said gussets whenthe gussets are inwardly folded.

6. A reclosable bag assembly, comprising:

a.. an outer bag having front and back panels peripherally joined atthree edges, the fourth edges jointly defining a mouth;

b. a liner bag disposed within said outer bag and having front and backpanels peripherally joined at three edges, the fourth edges jointlydefining a second mouth coinciding with the first-named mouth; and

c. a strip of flexible metal foil disposed between and engaging onlysaid front panels of said bags, the elongated edges of said stripextending parallel to the fourth edges of said front panels, andextending for nearly the full width of said front panels, said stripbeing fully enclosed by said panels and secured in a fixed position,said strip having a number of embossed portions formed as a series ofparallel ridges extending transversely to the length of said strip andhence transversely across a prospective fold line for augmenting theresistance to bending of the foil along such fold line.

1. A reclosable bag assembly, comprising: a. an outer bag of opaquematerial having front and back panels peripherally joined at threeedges, the fourth edges jointly defining a mouth, there being a windowopening in one of said panels; b. a liner bag of transparent materialdisposed within said outer bag and having front and back panelsperipherally joined at three edges, the fourth edges jointly defining asecond mouth coinciding with the first named mouth, said liner bagserving also as a window pane closing said opening; and c. a strip ofmetal foil disposed between and engaging only said front panels of saidbags centrally in the space between said mouth and said window, theelongated edges of said strip extending parallel to the fourth edges ofsaid front panels, and extending for nearly the full width of said frontpanels, said strip being fully enclosed by said panels and secured in afixed position.
 2. A reclosable bag assembly, comprising: a. an outerbag having front and back panels peripherally joined at three edges, thefourth edges jointly defining a mouth; b. a liner bag disposed withinsaid outer bag and having front and back panels peripherally joined atthree edges, the fourth edges jointly defining a second mouth coincidingwith the first-named mouth; c. a strip of flexible metal foil disposedbetween and engaging only said front panels of said bags, the elongatededges of said strip extending parallel to the fourth edges of said frontpanels, and extending for nearly the full width of said front panels,said strip being fully enclosed by said panels and secured in a fixedposition; and d. indicia carried on at least one of said first-namedpanels for indicating at least one prospective fold line between saidmouth and the nearer edge of said strip.
 3. A reclosable bag assembly,comprising: a. an outer bag having front and back panels peripherallyjoined at three edges, the fourth edges jointly defining a mouth; b. aliner bag disposed within said outer bag and having front and backpanels peripherally joined at three edges, the fourth edges jointlydefining a second mouth coinciding with the first-named mouth; and c. astrip of flexible metal foil disposed between and engaging only saidfront panels of said bags, the elongated edges of said strip exTendingparallel to the fourth edges of said front panels, and extending fornearly the full width of said front panels, said strip being fullyenclosed by said panels and secured in a fixed position, at least oneend portion of said strip having been folded over upon itself betweensaid bags to provide a configuration which augments the resistance tobending of the foil with one end of the strip being a folded edge.
 4. Areclosable bag assembly, comprising: a. an outer bag having front andback panels peripherally joined at three edges, the fourth edges jointlydefining a mouth; b. a liner bag disposed within said outer bag andhaving front and back panels peripherally joined at three edges, thefourth edges jointly defining a second mouth coinciding with thefirst-named mouth; and c. a strip of flexible metal foil disposedbetween and engaging only said front panels of said bags, the elongatededges of said strip extending parallel to the fourth edges of said frontpanels, and extending for nearly the full width of said front panels,said strip being fully enclosed by said panels and secured in a fixedposition, a central portion of said strip having a Z-fold so as toprovide a portion having three foil thicknesses between said bags whichaugments the resistance to bending of the foil.
 5. A reclosable bagassembly, comprising: a. an outer bag having front and back panelsperipherally joined at three edges, such joining being provided atopposite longitudinal edges by a pair of gussets, the fourth edgesjointly defining a mouth; b. a liner bag disposed within said outer bagand having front and back panels peripherally joined at three edges,such joining being provided at opposite longitudinal edges by a pair ofgussets, the fourth edges jointly defining a second mouth coincidingwith the first-named mouth; and c. a strip of flexible metal foildisposed between and engaging only said front panels of said bags, aportion of said strip having been folded over upon itself between saidbags to provide a configuration which augments the resistance to bendingof the foil, the elongated edges of said strip extending parallel to thefourth edges of said front panels, said strip being fully enclosed bysaid panels and secured in a fixed position, the ends of said stripextending for nearly the full width of said front panels to be injuxtaposition with said gussets when the gussets are inwardly folded. 6.A reclosable bag assembly, comprising: a. an outer bag having front andback panels peripherally joined at three edges, the fourth edges jointlydefining a mouth; b. a liner bag disposed within said outer bag andhaving front and back panels peripherally joined at three edges, thefourth edges jointly defining a second mouth coinciding with thefirst-named mouth; and c. a strip of flexible metal foil disposedbetween and engaging only said front panels of said bags, the elongatededges of said strip extending parallel to the fourth edges of said frontpanels, and extending for nearly the full width of said front panels,said strip being fully enclosed by said panels and secured in a fixedposition, said strip having a number of embossed portions formed as aseries of parallel ridges extending transversely to the length of saidstrip and hence transversely across a prospective fold line foraugmenting the resistance to bending of the foil along such fold line.